Air Force threatens Article 15 for proxy log-on

[CommunityEditor]

Surfing the Web while deployed could land you an Article 15, the Air Force is warning airmen.

The Air Force is concerned that deployed airmen are using government computers to visit Internet sites that would otherwise be blocked. A common practice to reach the banned sits is using a “proxy server” that links an airman’s computer with banned sites.

Last year, nine airmen deployed to U.S. Central Command areas of operations — all enlisted — were given Articles 15 for proxy server violations, an Air Force release said. The four staff sergeants and five senior airmen were handed punishments resulting in the loss of six stripes, four suspended reductions and $4,960 in forfeited pay.

Use of proxy sites hurts network performance, avoids network security measures and puts sensitive data at risk by allowing spyware to be downloaded onto government computers, the Air Force warned. These proxy sites store address information that links the Air Force to the sites that were visited.


Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...webban_070924/

It's IPO's responsibility to "protect" the network, if they aren't doing
their job protecting why take it out on the user? Also, the article meerly
states that they used proxies. Not that anything malicious was actually
done on the system or network.

I just hope one day the commanders who imposed the Articles 15 look back on
their actions and realize the punishment was way too extreme for the
"crime". The commanders must believe EVERY piece of incriminating evidence coming out
of the Comm Sq because they are too ignorant to question it.

They were obviously trying to make an example out of these guys to reduce proxy use. CGIProxy is easy to install and use if you're computer literate, so banning individual proxies comes down to whack-a-mole. Presumably they felt it was a better use of military resources to scare people away from them entirely.

A man or woman can serve their country, put their life at risk, but needs to proxy in to surf the web because of blocked sites? UNBLOCK THE DAMN SITES.

Shameful.

[Measure Man]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

It's IPO's responsibility to "protect" the network, if they aren't doing
their job protecting why take it out on the user?

That's just silly. It's their job to protect the network so don't punish people breaking the rules?

It's Security Forces job to protect the base...so does that mean you don't punish someone stealing cars, but punish the police?

Great policy! I see way too many military spending a good portion of the regular workday hanging out on forums and chat rooms. Taxpayers money shouldn't be wasted paying salaries of such deadwood. The services should either be severely downsized or better yet start fully employing their people. Most don't need access to the civilian internet to do their jobs.

Go Air Force. Hope the others follow your lead.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Great policy! I see way too many military spending a good portion of the regular workday hanging out on forums and chat rooms. Taxpayers money shouldn't be wasted paying salaries of such deadwood. The services should either be severely downsized or better yet start fully employing their people. Most don't need access to the civilian internet to do their jobs.

Go Air Force. Hope the others follow your lead.

Aren't you the fascist. Since when don't military folks have free time or the same human rights as all people? You speak as though they are slaves.

[dourdan]

if they don't want us goign to proxy sites, block them.
i work at the tech center and i saw the computer tracking system which tracks which sites everyone on base goes on. they know which proxy sites are most used and yet they do nothing about blocking them.

that's like saying "here is a jar of candy... I'm gonna leave it right here and walk away-- but you are not allowed to eat any!"

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by 911 truth guest

Aren't you the fascist. Since when don't military folks have free time or the same human rights as all people?

You do understand the concept "regular workday", don't you?

Just to help you out, that is the portion of the day when you go where someone else wants you to go and do what someone else wants you to do because that someone else is paying you to go where they want you to go and do what they want you to do. (This is somewhat different than going to bed because Mommy tells you to.)

If you are supposed to be at "Point A" doing "Task B" at "Time C" because you agreed with "Employer D" to do so in return for "Amount E" - exactly how is it "slavery" if you get disciplined for doing "Task FTD" on "Employer D"s equipment while at "Point A" at "Time C"?

(RHETORICAL ASIDE - Do I really expect to get a rational answer?)

[The Universal Curmudgeon_guest]

Originally Posted by dourdan

that's like saying "here is a jar of candy... I'm gonna leave it right here and walk away-- but you are not allowed to eat any!"

Most adults don't have any real problem with that.

Do you?